Not too long ago, we unveiled a new arcade title coming to the market from an independent developer known as Coin Crew Games. Founded by Wyatt Bushnell (son of Nolan Bushnell) and Mike Salyh, the company has been providing concepts to the micro theme park known as Two Bit Circus, while looking to provide some innovative concepts to the wider arcade industry. The first game we saw is called King of the Road, and it provided a fresh take on multiplayer competitive racing and social gaming. Today we have info on their second game, called Battle Bowling.
NOTE: As this post is discussing a game that is not seeing mass production yet, anything about this title could change between now and when/if it received a wide release.
Battle Bowling is an original concept that combines video bowling with an arcade racer & an obstacle course. Easy to learn, difficult to master as they say. As the game is setup for 9:16 aspect ratio video, that’s how this particular gameplay video displays. Check it out, then we’ll talk more (NOTE: The video has been updated to more of a features trailer than straight gameplay, 9/24)
Again, it’s a simple concept that looks like it captures what an arcade space needs, with intuitive & competitive gameplay. Everyone knows bowling, it’s easy to play video bowling, and everyone knows how to race. While I can’t comment on how fun it is or isn’t as I haven’t played it yet, looking at that video as well as the photos, this seems like the perfect game to the social, multiplayer nature of arcades.
For the look, it certainly looks much better and more varied than something like Silver Strike Live, thanks to the environments. I also appreciate the 80’s synth music going on there, it seems to fit. Here’s the cabinet to look over:
If you want to play it, then you can also do so by hitting up the Two Bit Circus in Los Angeles, CA. Operators will be able to link two units together to reach a maximum of four players. There are currently 6 courses to play; Wyatt says that the final game should have somewhere “between 9-12.” It uses a total of three screens, one for each player, then that overhead marquee. In that sense it’s a little bit like the Lane Master that has done really well on the FEC market. While it does appear to tower a little bit, it’s not much deeper than an Injustice cabinet, which means that it should easily fit into most locations (assuming they don’t have really low ceilings). With a cabinet design like this, it could also be a great piece for street locations…something I’ve been saying that we need more of, but it’s an FEC market right now, and they don’t want small pieces. Still, connect two of these together and that would make up for it, I imagine. I also would guess that bowling alleys with arcades would love this one. This also features a redemption option for locations to take advantage of it that’s their thing; there are no ticket dispensers, so that would make it an e-ticket game.
There is no release date on this yet, nor information on possible distribution, since it’s still early for that. It still would be great to see at IAAPA 2019, but assuming that everything stays on track, it’s a game you may be coming across in 2020. What do you think about it from what we know so far?
Now this concept is a surefire hit with all sorts of places, and I do hope there is a plan for a smaller version that is a big as a standard cabinet but with 2 pairs of monitors.
I also believe that the multiplayer component can be expanded upon such as multiple pins at different check points and increasing the number of pins for more players at the end of the round as “BONUS BOWL”
I meant to say on the small cabinet version idea is a standard widescreen monitor with two separate cameras and expanded field view to make up for not having the 9:16 monitor setup for the “fancy FEC” version.